Mosquitoes don't bite Nala Simiyu. It's part of who she is, like being a half-Kenyan seventh-grader whose mother is in a wheelchair. But when a schoolmate's father--who happens to head up a large drug company--learns of Nala's special power, the excitement begins. After helping out with mosquito research, Nala has the chance to travel to Kenya to investigate mosquitoes' reactions to her father's family. All goes well until a man heartbroken by his daughter's death from malaria kidnaps Nala. In the midst of a realistic adventure story, this book will introduce young readers to such dilemmas as health disparities, subtle racism, and who owns biological information. Brave, fallible, compassionate and spirited, Nala is a strongly relatable character in a loving, imperfect family. " Mosquitoes Don't Bite Me ['s] insights are perfectly tailored for ages 9-12; from its discussions of sickle cell anemia and other health challenges to circumstances of poverty, health, and a personal hunt for truth and identity." -- Midwest Book Review "I can't imagine any reader, young or old, who will not feel enlightened by reading this wonderful book." --Diana Perry, Midwest Book Review "An unusually thought-provoking read highly recommended for young fiction readers who will receive more than action alone." --Diane Donovan, donovansliteraryservices.com "Bravo! A wonderful story, full of interesting science and important social issues." --John Carlson, Higgins Professor of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Yale University "How do you make science research, social justice, and history come alive for middle schoolers? You might not think of mosquitoes as the 'secret sauce' but Pendred Noyce did. With a spirited main character, Nala Simiyu, Pendred writes a compelling and personal story that makes scientific research come alive so that you can't put the book down. She also weaves in social justice and social dynamics that kids in middle school navigate through. I enjoyed reading the story and would have loved to read aloud with my son when he was little. I encourage you to share a copy with a girl or boy in your life, with a library at your local public school, or a Free Library in your neighborhood." --Linda Kekelis, CEO and Executive Director, Techbridge Penny grew up in Silicon Valley before studying biochemistry at Harvard and medicine at Stanford. She has received recognition and numerous awards for her compelling body of work for young readers, particularly inspiring women in science,  including: Magnificent Minds, Remarkable Minds, Inventors, Makers, Barrier Breakers, Mosquitoes Don't Bite Me, Lost in Lexicon, Ice Castle, The Beechwood Flute and several titles in the Galactic Academy of Science (G.A.S.) series. Penny challenges readers to grapple with issues related to women in science, women in history, identity and adolescence, resilience, family, and more. She is a powerful storyteller and an important voice in literature for children, teens & young adults. Penny lives in Boston with her husband and enjoys biking, zip lining, snorkeling, and traveling as much as she can. She has torn both ACLs and broken her collarbone once, all while skiing... but she still skis. Her five children, who all have fascinating and productive lives of their own, come and go.